I'm a feminist but...

[notenoughsocks]

I'm a feminist but I like crochet and baking....

I would like to know what you do/like that doesn't, as far as you know, tie in easily with most people's ideas about feminism and feminists. I started thinking about the idea when I kept reading posts that said something along the lines of 'I can't be a feminist because I'm a SAHM but [something very feminst]...'.

As this is my first ever thread (aside from the 'help - is this rash normal? sort) please go easy. Perhaps more towards the light hearted end of the spectrum. Just interested really in stereotypes of feminsts and feminism and ways to combat them.

saf, my friends had theirs on the NHS

my friends have nothing but positive stories, right from the 1st consultation

one of them went swimming in a river when we went white water rafting 12 weeks after her op !

the same river that one of the blokes in our party had to be rescued from, because he got into difficulties

God where do I start? I'm a feminist but I don't go out without (at least some) makeup, I shave my legs and armpits and pluck eyebrows etc. I flirt with men (I am single) and even have sex with men sometimes without feeling the slightest bit like I am betraying the sisterhood :o

I love baby animals and baby humans, and genuinely enjoy cleaning the bathroom (but not the kitchen! Ok?) and wear dresses all the time.

I'm a feminist, but I don't want to work, I want to stay home with DCs.

Surely a breast reduction could never be called anti-feminist SAF? Much better for your back (I'm thinking here that they are currently big and heavy to carry around).

I am a feminist but I don't like driving at all. I would always rather someone else drove (unless they were really bad).

If we're saying I'm a feminist but I'm not like the stereotypical depiction of feminists - where the stereotype is angry, man-hating, hairy-legged dungaree-wearers, then I think we should be fair in our stereptyping and say that a breast reduction is always "feminist" (as in, not done for men) because of course all men want all boobs to be bigger! :o

Trillian, forgot to say that I don't like driving on motorways. I metnion this cos I do remember a thread - perhaps it was even a DoD, which was basically motorway vs non-motorway drivers. I remember thinking that, just cos I don't like driving on motorways I don't think that that makes me a doormat sort.

I am very scathing of the wimpishness that leads to women not driving on motorways. But I would rather not drive on any road ever if I have the choice. Not very consistent, I know. BUT I recognise that I am being a wimp and will always try not to put anyone out with my wimpishness, and if someone does me a favour that allows me to not be a wimp I will try to repay them and generally act very grateful.

btw,thanks all for your articulateness. It is really helping me to get a handle on this. Think in some ways it might have raised more questions than it answered for me especailly about where or if there is a 'me' that is untainted by patriarchy and if that me is a better sort of me. But then, more questions are nearly always a good thing for me.
Agree with FB that it is important though to look ahead (god I dislike that phrase almost as much as 'moving forward) and think about ways to our children and the next generation ('raise our revolution') Sorry, I saw that phrase on the other slogan hunting thread and love love love it.

Most feminists would faint if they saw what i get up to but I still think I am one

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=gordonandthewhale.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/brian_cox_ljpg.jpeg&imgrefurl=gordonandthewhale.com/usa-ff-to-bring-ray-liotta-brian-cox-m-emmet-walsh-and-more-to-dallas/&usg=__Uf8EICrZIfesAiOxV4nGm31h9V4=&h=420&w=372&sz=32&hl=en&start=0&sig2=Agw_gLPsgp2l_O2Ha9rIyw&zoom=1&tbnid=zjs8BTtVw2ILCM:&tbnh=132&tbnw=106&ei=i3-ATfKVBIuwhAep66GfBw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbrian%2Bcox%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D590%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=513&vpy=90&dur=244&hovh=239&hovw=211&tx=96&ty=95&oei=i3-ATfKVBIuwhAep66GfBw&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I was looking for physicist Brian Cox and found this

Dittany are you talking to the thread or to me with the 'let's not stereotype'?

I think the thread was specifically saying "look at us, we are all feminists but not all stereotypes because feminists come in many flavours".

I was just having a laugh, saying that if all feminists are the stereotype then all men must be like the lad stereotype.

Hello dittany. I admit that I have never met a sinlge dungaree clad feminist - although I have met lots of other types. Where have all the dungarees gone? (half serious question)
Truthfully, I don't think I have ever felt very uncomfortable in feminist circles full stop. Rather the reverse - being around feminists generally makes feel more comfortable.

Also, I really really am not trying to suggest that there is anyhing unfeminist about typically 'feminie' skills - e.g. knitting. As we all know - and should shout from the rooftops - these skills have been devalued and are low status becuase they are 'women's work.' I actually hoped that, in some senses, this thread might help to explore some of the ideas and assumptions around that a bit [drifts of into lack of clarity land......]

What are the male equivalents of womens crafts?

noddy motor mechanics, carpentary, that sort of thing?

I sometimes think that they are DIY things like carpentry, plumbing etc. Those are also 'trades' (well paid) and there are proper apprenticeships for them. Coversely sewmistress (feminine and related to feminine art of sewing) are more typically to be low paid and so on..
Historically, women have (and still sometimes have for various reasons) had problems breaking into these areas. And I wonder - if carpentry became 'feminine' would it be so well paid?

Please, please anybody correct me if you think I have got this wrong...